(UNDATED) - The federal government says that the United States is suffering through an epidemic of prescription and pain-pill drug abuse.

Heartland Intervention is an Indianapolis company that specializes in helping people suffering from any kind of chemical addition (and their families) to get off drugs or alcohol.

Heartland's CEO, Scott Watson, says that people from all walks of life, be they educated or not, rich or poor, male or female -- are being legitimately prescribed pain medications by their doctors to cope with issues such as chronic pain.

However, says Watson, over time many of these people become so dependent on these medications, that they become addicted -- and will do whatever it takes to keep getting them.

As a person's addiction to opiate pain-pilll gets worse and he or she can no longer afford them, they turn to heroin. Watson says heroin is easily available to much cheaper than prescribed pain-pills.

Further, he says, there is really no such thing as a heroin overdose because there is no safe dose for anyone. A first-time used could inject or otherwise consume even a very small amount, and still die from the dosage.

Watson says that whenever a high-profile person, such as actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman dies, it brings drug abuse back into public discussion -- and that, Watson says, can help people realize that help is available to get them off drugs... that they don't have to remain addicted all of their lives.